Holy Makkah annually attracts Muslim devotees from various corners of the world for the pilgrimage rituals, sensing special spiritual experience seen in the tears they shed at the end of the services.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has for many years spared no effort and put all possible resources at the disposal of serving the incoming waves of pilgrims of diverse ethnicities, cultures and languages.

Ongoing modernization and renovation of the sacred sites and the facilities provided for some 1.5 million pilgrims -- according to the latest season record -- has earned the kingdom admiration of all states of the world.

Badr Al-Mutairi, the Kuwaiti undersecretary of awqaf and Islamic affairs and head of the pilgrims' expedition, told KUNA that the Saudi authorities work out the convenient plans for each hajj season.

Al-Mutairi said cooperation by the security personnel and organizers come in line with the kingdom advocacy of moderation and renunciation of extremism, hailing in particular the authorities' installment of electronic systems to organize the hajj.

Dr. Turki Al-Afasi, the head of the Afasi expedition, noted in a statement to KUNA that the authorities provided the pilgrims with various websites, namely "nosok," "i'tamarna," and "hajj without a bag," in addition to other smart services such as the hajj smart card, the smart bracelet and the robot. Moreover, they made available guides round the clock, distributed copies of the Quran including copies translated into more than 76 languages.

Saad Al-Jelasi, the head of another group of pilgrims, lauded the Saudi authorities for providing diverse facilities to all pilgrims without discrimination, indicating that transports were made easier with the railway services.

Source: Kuwait News Agency